Chapter 15
“Wow, slow down there, buddy. You might tear something.” Vi teased, jumping onto the wall.
The burglar clenched his teeth, tightening his grip on the knife. “Come here and fight me like a real man, Webhead.” He dropped the bag filled with money—his partners doing the same, pulling out their knives.
Vi dropped down from the wall. “I’m gonna try not to take offense to that. But before I kick your asses and hand you over to the enforcers, I have a question. Why do all low-life criminals carry knives? Wouldn’t guns be more effective? Just a thought.”
The man grunted, stepping onto glass shattered on the floor. “When I’m done with you, I’m gonna rip your tongue out, so no one will have to put up with that mouth again.” He nodded to his partners, gesturing them to charge together.
“How sweet–watch the suit!” One of them charged at her, swinging the knife. Vi sidestepped effortlessly, her reflexes sharp as the knife sliced through empty air. She ducked low and swept her leg out, knocking the man’s feet out from under him. He hit the ground hard, the knife clattering out of his hand and sliding across the floor.
“I mean, c’mon guys. This is getting too easy,” Vi quipped, straightening up just as another one of the burglars lunged at her.
He slashed at her midsection, but Vi twisted away, catching his wrist with one hand and yanking him off balance. With a quick flick of her wrist, she webbed his hand to the floor, forcing him to drop his weapon.
The third man hesitated, his eyes darting between his fallen partners and Vi, who was grinning beneath her mask. “Don’t just stand there. I’ll even let you have the first shot.” she taunted, beckoning him with two fingers.
He snarled and rushed her, his knife aimed straight for her chest. Vi leapt into the air, twisting over him in a clean arc, and landed lightly on her feet behind him. Before he could turn around, she shot a web to his back, yanked him forward, and sent him crashing into the bank’s wall.
“Three for three,” Vi said, dusting off her hands as the last man groaned in defeat. “That’s record time.” She webbed the three of them together in a neat bundle, their protests muffled as they struggled.
She leaned down to their ringleader, her tone mockingly sweet. “Next time, bring a gun when you want to get serious.”
The distant wail of enforcer sirens echoed through the air, and Vi straightened, turning toward the shattered window. “Catch you boys later—don’t miss me too much!” She turned to the people crouched around the destroyed bank lobby. “Sorry about the inconvenience. Maybe next time we can meet under…better circumstances.” With a final web shot, she launched herself out into the city.
“Violet, you’re home early.” Babette watched as Vi dropped her bag, an exhausted look on her face. “Are you okay?” Babette’s smile turned to a thin line. Setting her needlework down, Babette got off the couch and walked over to Vi, who was sitting on a kitchen chair.
“Um, yeah,” Vi muttered, dragging a hand down her face. “Where’s Mylo, Clag, and Pow?” Vi dismissed Babette’s worried glances.
Finding a seat next to Vi, Babette replied, “A fire hydrant broke, so they’re out messing around with Ekko.”
“Cool, cool,” Vi nodded her head. “There any leftovers?” Standing from her chair, she walked to the fridge and searched inside.
“I’m afraid not. I gave the rest to Lirra and her family. She just had a baby, so I figured she would want some help.”
“That’s okay,” Vi closed the fridge. “I wasn’t hungry anyway.” She sat back down in the chair and sighed—not one of relaxation but of pure exhaustion.
“Vi, I’m worried about you. You come home late every night with the same look on your face. What’s going on?”
“Babette,” Vi groaned into her hands. “We do this every week. You get mad at me for staying out late and ignoring my responsibilities, blah, blah. I apologize, then we do it again the next week.”
Babette sighed, “Violet, this is different. You look different tonight. What’s wrong?”
Vi glanced down at her hands. “It’s nothing. Just…” Pausing, Vi took a breath. “I met someone Vander was close with, and I don’t think I’ll ever feel the same about him.”
“Don’t shut me out. Tell me who this person is.” Babette pleaded, her gentle hand wrapping around Vi’s.
“Her name’s Sevika.”
“Sevika.” Babette sneered, disgust evident in her tone. “What lies did she tell you?”
“You know Sevika?”
“She betrayed Vander. Everywhere she goes, she leaves destruction in her wake—and she revels in it. Now tell me, what did she tell you.”
“Betrayed Vander?” Vi furrowed her eyebrows. “Why? How?”
“That is a topic for another time. Violet, I need to know what she told you.”
“She told me she and Vander were like family, and they had a business together.”
“Did she tell you what the business was?”
Vi shook her head. “No, just that it wasn’t kid-oriented.”
“That’s one thing she wasn’t lying about.”
“Babette, what was the business?”
“It was just a company Vander, Sevika, and Silco ran.” Babette brushed her off.
“Silco? Babette, you don’t get to leave me in the dark. I’m not a kid anymore.” Vi scoffed. “How am I supposed to become anything—let alone succeed Vander—when I don’t know shit!”
“Sevika put this in your head,” narrowing her eyes with a warning glare. “Some things are supposed to be left alone, and this is one of them.”
“Just when I thought we were finally getting somewhere,” Vi muttered, walking to the door. “I’m going out. I don’t know when I’ll see you.”
“Violet! If you walk out that-” Vi slammed the door, not giving Babette another word to scream at her.
“Am I that untrustworthy?” Vi scoffed, swinging from another roof, wind blowing against her mask. There was no point in returning to the apartment tonight, so why not do some night patrol?
Vi was angry—understandably so. It would sense why Sevika wouldn’t tell her the truth, but Babette? Vi scoffed again, jumping over a building and shooting another web. Babette had watched her grow up, helping Vander whenever he was having trouble. That image of a baby Vi must be imprinted in her mind—the only way she saw her now: a kid.
If only she knew. Vi shook her head. Babette thought she was protecting Vi from something she couldn’t handle, but there was nothing to protect Vi when she put herself on the front lines. It didn’t make sense how Babette couldn’t trust her with the past but trust her to take care of three—sometimes four—kids every day.
Vi shifted her thoughts from Babette to someone she mentioned: Silco. Who was he? Why didn’t Vi know him? If Vander and Sevika ran a business with him, then they must’ve been close. Maybe he died, or maybe…he also betrayed Vander.
Vi swung across the bridge into Piltover. Surprisingly, there had been no suspicious activity in Zaun—except for the usual drunks who fought over booze, but Vi let them handle that. That made it easy for me.
Swinging deeper into Piltover, Vi’s eyes scanned the rows of towering mansions below, their pristine facades glimmering under the soft glow of streetlights. Each estate seemed grander than the last, with sprawling gardens, gilded gates, and windows that sparkled like polished gems. The further she went, the quieter the streets below became, the bustling crowds of Zaun replaced by sleek cars and the occasional enforcer patrol.
Landing lightly on the edge of a skyscraper, Vi crouched low, taking a final glance at the city below her—nothing out of place. “Guess I get to chill–” A loud crash followed by a scream interrupted her, coming from an alley under her. “Nevermind,” She sighed, diving into the air.
She landed silently on the edge of a fire escape, peering down into the shadows. A figure was standing near a dumpster, frozen in place. Vi watched in amusement, waiting to see what the person would do next.
“That goddamn cat,” The figure muttered under their breath, taking a moment to compose themselves. There was something familiar about the voice—polished, feminine, and unmistakably posh. Vi’s brow furrowed as recognition began to dawn on her.
“There’s no fucking way.” Vi bit back a laugh, watching as the person awkwardly stepped away from the pile of trash on the ground.
“Who said that?” The figure turned toward Vi’s voice. “Come out.”
“If you insist,” Vi jumped down into the alley, landing behind the person. “Boo.” They yelped, spun around, and tried to punch Vi. “Hey! Watch it.” Vi ducked away from the punch.
“Spider-Man? What are you doing here?”
“Hello to you too, Ms. Kiramman. I was patrolling the area when I heard a crash come from this alley, and it was quite a surprise to see you were the culprit.”
Caitlyn blushed, clearly embarrassed. “You heard that?”
“I think all of Piltover heard that.” Vi chuckled. “What were you doing?
“You’re gonna laugh when I tell you.”
“Yeah, I probably am, but you still gotta tell me,” Vi smirked under her mask and leaned against the wall.
“Fine,” Caitlyn huffed, but a smile tugged on her lips. “I was walking down the alley when a ridiculously large cat jumped from the dumpster, and it scared me, so I screamed.”
Vi chuckled, “You’re forgetting you left a mess of trash around the alley.”
“That was the cat.”
“I doubt it, Ms. Kiramman.” Vi pushed off the wall and walked up to the girl. “Also, what are you doing out so late at night? I’m sure your councilor mother would not be pleased to see you sneaking around.”
“Well,” Caitlyn paused. “I was going to see someone.”
“Ooh, a secret lover. How scandalous,” Vi circled Caitlyn like a detective interrogating someone—for dramatic effect, of course. “Did our kiss mean nothing? I’m hurt.” Vi teased, stopping her circles in front of Caitlyn.
“No, not a secret lover,” Caitlyn rolled her eyes, a deeper red covering her cheeks. “It’s a friend, and they left something at school, so I decided to return it to them.”
“At one in the morning?”
“Well, when you put it that way…”
“Why don’t you tell me their name, and I’ll give it to them. Who wouldn’t want to meet the spectacular Spider-Man?” Vi smirked.
“Don’t get so cocky. You’re not that special.” Caitlyn retorted, crossing her arms.
“You must think I am otherwise, you wouldn’t have kissed me.”
“Enough with that,” Caitlyn huffed. “It was a moment of weakness. I regret-”
“I regret nothing. You’re a good kisser, princess.” Caitlyn didn’t respond and looked away. “Look who’s all flustered.” Vi teased, laughing as Caitlyn's face became redder. “Okay, I’m sorry,” Vi took a deep breath, trying to stop her laughter. “But please, let me give whatever it is to whatever person. I couldn’t let you do it.”
Finally, Caitlyn looked back at Vi. Clearing her throat, she responded, “Vi Vanderson, I need you to give this to her.” Caitlyn pulled out a letter from her inside her coat.
Vi’s eyebrows shot up as she took the letter, looking it over. The envelope was crisp, the edges neatly folded, with a wax seal stamped in the corner—the Kiramman signature. She flipped it over, her fingers tracing the elegant handwriting on the front.
“Vi… I know Vi. I’ll be sure to give this to her.” Hesitating a moment, she tucked the letter into a secret pocket.
Caitlyn’s eyebrows shot up. “You know Vi?”
“Uh, yeah. I’ve seen her around.” Vi shrugged.
“Oh…” Caitlyn thought for a moment. “Has she—I don’t know—mentioned me?”
“Why? You gotta crush?” Vi wiggled her eyebrows through her mask. Though she asked the question as a joke, the thought of Caitlyn Kiramman having a crush on her was very intriguing.
Caitlyn scoffed, avoiding the white eyes of Vi’s mask. “What? No.” Caitlyn shook her head as if banishing the thought from her mind.
“Alright, alright.” Vi put her hands up. “No need to get so defensive.” She chuckled. “Let me take you home. I couldn’t possibly let a princess such as yourself walk home alone at this hour.” Her voice carried a hint of sarcasm, masking the underlying seriousness.
“You are going to walk me home?” Caitlyn crossed her arms, looking over Vi’s red and blue spandex—supersuit, as Vi would call it.
“Walk you home?” Vi shook her head as her body language mocked Caitlyn’s suspicious one. “Why walk when you can swing?”
Caitlyn’s eyes widened, taking a step away from Vi. “In what mad world would I trust you?”
“This is the same girl who kissed me?” Vi muttered to herself.
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” Vi shot back before walking toward the girl. “Look, princess, It’ll take so much longer if I actually walk you home, and who knows how many criminals are around?”
“Criminals? In Gilded Row—the wealthiest part of Piltover?” Caitlyn deadpanned.
“You never know.” Caitlyn was shaking her head as Vi tried to convince her. “Well, I’m not leaving you here. So either you come willingly, or I wrap you in a bunch of webs and stick you to my back.”
Caitlyn scoffed at Vi’s ridiculous idea. “You wouldn’t actually…” Looking over Vi's disposition, she realized there was no joking in her previous statement. Realizing there was no way out—though a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder what it might feel like to swing through Piltover with Spider-Man, a thought she’d never dare admit—she let out a reluctant sigh. “Fine, let’s do it your way.”
Vi held her gloved hand out, waiting for Caitlyn. Swallowing her hesitation—her confident posture long gone, Caitlyn reached out, her fingers brushing against Vi’s hand before she finally stepped closer. Her arms wrapped around Vi’s neck, her hold tentative at first, but as she felt the steady rhythm of Vi’s steady, slow breathing, she slowly relaxed, settling into the reassuring cadence.
“Don’t freak out on me, alright?” Vi chuckled, pulling Caitlyn closer to her—her arm firmly against Caitlyn’s waist.
“Shut up.” Caitlyn tightened her grip around her neck before looking down at Vi.
“Don’t be nervous. I got you.” Vi’s steady words added an extra layer of ease. Caitlyn didn’t respond, taking a deep breath instead.
Vi shot a web toward a towering spire in the distance. The line went taut, and with a sharp tug, they were airborne. The ground seemed to vanish beneath Caitlyn’s feet, a gasp escaping her lips as the world blurred around her. Her arms wrapped tightly around Vi’s neck, her heart racing as the wind roared in her ears.
“Going back to Vi…you should really give her a chance. She’s got a lotta good qualities.”
“I am not doing this right now.” Caitlyn’s eyes were screwed shut—too nervous to see how high they really were.
“Fine,” Vi sighed dramatically. After shooting another web, she glanced over at Caitlyn, who was holding on to her like her life depended on it—it kinda did. “Can you at least open your eyes? The view’s gorgeous from here.”
“How high are we?”
“I dunno… a couple feet, maybe?” Caitlyn grunted in response, annoyed by Vi’s sarcastic response. “It’s really not that bad. Come on, princess, you can do it.”
Caitlyn slowly opened her eyes, wind whipping into her eyes. Her breath caught as they soared past gilded towers and over bustling courtyards, the city a patchwork of glowing windows and faintly illuminated streets below. She clung to Vi, her grip firm but trembling, as the rush of adrenaline mixed with disbelief.
“Nice, isn’t it?”
“Mhm,” Words were caught in Caitlyn’s throat as she gazed out at the beautiful city below her. Before, she had thought the view from the council’s tower was the pinnacle of Piltover’s beauty, a breathtaking panorama of golden spires and bustling streets. But this—suspended high above the city, with the wind rushing past her and the faint glow of the skyline stretching endlessly below—took it to an entirely new level.
From this vantage point, Piltover felt alive in a way the sterile stillness of the council’s tower could never capture. The flickering streetlights seemed to dance like fireflies, illuminating the winding roads that wove through the city. Towers she had admired from a distance now felt close enough to touch, their polished surfaces glinting faintly in the moonlight.
“Almost there,” Vi reassured, rubbing her thumb in circles on Caitlyn’s waist. “I got you.” As they approached the Kiramman estate, Vi fired another web toward the ornate ledge outside Caitlyn’s bedroom window—already open. Vi chuckled lowly, “I see you had the whole thing planned out.”
“Obviously,” Caitlyn rolled her eyes, a small smile forming. “How else would I return without notice?”
“Good point.” With a graceful arc, they landed lightly on the thick stone window trimming. Caitlyn stumbled slightly as her feet met solid ground.
Vi steadied her, a gloved hand resting briefly on Caitlyn’s lower back. Caitlyn took a moment to catch her breath, her heart still hammering in her chest as she glanced back at the city. Forcing her eyes away from the view, she focused on returning to her bedroom. With a careful step—and Vi’s assuring hand—she placed a foot on the wooden floor of her bedroom. Despite how much she enjoyed her little adventure, the familiar aroma of her bedroom always brought a sense of comfort and ease.
“Hope you enjoyed your joy ride.” Vi’s chirping coming from the windowsill. “I certainly did.”
“Of course you did.” Caitlyn rolled her eyes, turning back to Vi’s masked face. “But, yes, it was… quite the experience.”
“I’m happy you feel that way.” Vi’s smirk grew but faltered slightly as she remembered how late it was—she could picture Babette’s head ready to explode, especially after their last fight. “I gotta go. See ya around.” Vi nodded at Caitlyn, a farewell, before aiming her web at a nearby roof.
“Wait,” Caitlyn grabbed Vi’s arm, stopping her from escape. She gnawed on her lip a moment, deciding if she should ask. Coming to a decision, she took a deep breath. “Will I…see you again?”
Vi chuckled, “I’m sure of it. If not, just call out my name three times. That should do it.”
Caitlyn scoffed, “You’re so annoying.” She shoved Vi’s shoulder as they both laughed.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Their laughter began to die down, looking each other in the eyes with the silence that followed. Vi cleared her throat. “But, yes, I can guarantee you will see me again. Especially now that your mother is back on her feet and tracking me down. I might even be on the news tomorrow.”
“That’s not funny,” Caitlyn tried to scold her, but it was a useless attempt as giggles bubbled up.
A wide smile was plastered on Vi’s face as the sound filled the room, a sound so light and unexpected it sent a ripple through Vi’s chest. She couldn’t look away. The way Caitlyn’s cheeks flushed faintly, the way her shoulders relaxed, her lips curling into a smile that felt so genuine, so unguarded, it made Vi’s pulse quicken.
“What? Do I have something on my face?” Caitlyn’s giggles subsided as she began touching her face. Once she noticed Vi staring, the fear of embarrassment crept in, heating her cheeks as she quickly looked away, trying to compose herself.
Vi shook her head softly—trying to free her mind of those thoughts and to assure Caitlyn nothing tainted her beautiful face. “No, sorry. I was just…thinking—er—about something.” Vi internally cursed herself. This was the second time she had stuttered in a conversation with Caitlyn.
“Ok, good.” Caitlyn sighed in relief, stepping closer to Vi’s crouched position on the windowsill. “Before you go, I want to give you something out of appreciation.”
“Ooh, another kiss?” Vi teased, though she was eagerly hoping for another one.
“Easy, tiger.” Caitlyn giggled, leaning over the window’s trim, her face just inches from Spider-Man’s masked one.
With a gentle, almost hesitant movement, Caitlyn pulled up the mask, revealing just above Vi’s lips. Her hand brushed lightly against Vi’s arm for balance as she pressed a soft kiss to the side of her unmasked cheek, her lips meeting soft skin—a speck away from Vi’s lips. Caitlyn pulled back after the brief kiss, her cheeks faintly pink.
“Thank you,” Caitlyn whispered, her voice barely audible over the quiet hum of the city outside.
Vi swallowed hard. Pulling herself out of her daze, she focused on Caitlyn’s soft eyes. “Any time.”
Caitlyn straightened, her fingers still resting lightly on the window’s edge. “Goodnight, Spider-Man,” she said softly, stepping back into her room with a lingering glance.
Vi didn’t respond, but her grin told Caitlyn everything. With a quick nod, she shot a web into the night, heart pounding in her ears. The faint touch of Caitlyn’s kiss burned in her memory, refusing to fade even as the cool night air rushed past her.